Bad times for Harley....
S. Fla. Harley dealer lays off 41 workers
Posted on Tue, Nov. 13, 2007
BY DOUGLAS HANKS
Worried open-road thrills will be no match for a slowing economy, Harley-Davidson's top South Florida dealer dismissed 41 workers this week.
The firings were spread over four South Florida locations: Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Sunrise and Boca Raton. Twenty-eight of the dismissed employees worked for the company full-time, according to a statement from Bruce Rossmeyer's Harley-Davidson, Florida's top dealer for the high-end choppers.
''Nothing disturbs us more than having to respond to the slowdown in the economic marketplace,'' said Jeff Cheek, general manager of the company. ``Our employees are like family, and we look forward to improvements in the South Florida economy.''
No payroll purges were announced for Rossmeyer's dealerships in Daytona or New Smyrna Beach. The company also will trim hours at its stores in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Sunrise stores.
The purge follows a down year for Harley sales, which were off 4.7 percent nationwide as of September, according to company filings. Company executives predicted a challenging year in 2008, too.
Bruce Rossmeyer, owner of the largest Harley-Davidson store in the countrylooks over some of his "Road King" stock at his Ft. Lauderdale showroom. The dealer dismissed 41 workers this week.[/b]
Posted on Tue, Nov. 13, 2007
BY DOUGLAS HANKS
Worried open-road thrills will be no match for a slowing economy, Harley-Davidson's top South Florida dealer dismissed 41 workers this week.
The firings were spread over four South Florida locations: Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Sunrise and Boca Raton. Twenty-eight of the dismissed employees worked for the company full-time, according to a statement from Bruce Rossmeyer's Harley-Davidson, Florida's top dealer for the high-end choppers.
''Nothing disturbs us more than having to respond to the slowdown in the economic marketplace,'' said Jeff Cheek, general manager of the company. ``Our employees are like family, and we look forward to improvements in the South Florida economy.''
No payroll purges were announced for Rossmeyer's dealerships in Daytona or New Smyrna Beach. The company also will trim hours at its stores in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Sunrise stores.
The purge follows a down year for Harley sales, which were off 4.7 percent nationwide as of September, according to company filings. Company executives predicted a challenging year in 2008, too.
Bruce Rossmeyer, owner of the largest Harley-Davidson store in the countrylooks over some of his "Road King" stock at his Ft. Lauderdale showroom. The dealer dismissed 41 workers this week.[/b]
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Maybe this will cause them to lower their high prices a bit?[}:)]
Trinity +++0 -
Ha!!
D.0 -
I think folks are wising-up and buying more reliable bikes. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
Maybe this will cause them to lower their high prices a bit?[}:)]
Trinity +++
I hope your right. The bikes are way over priced, just for the name.0 -
Bummer,........some of that is simply the economy right now, due to morons that bought houses they couldn't afford.
The dealers are greedy SOB's though by and large.
I was in the market at one point for a "fatboy",......you look up MSRP on Harleys site, and then go to the dealers.
Add several thousands, to the MSRP, and that is what it would cost you to leave with one.
I have never paid MSRP on any vehicle, and it sure as heck wasn't gonna start with a "bike".
Told em they were crazy, and left.
Maybe if they get back to reasonable prices, they will pick up again.0 -
Harleys are expensive (want to refrain from using "over-priced") but the jist of the article, as Marc points out, is the economy.
We are in for some trying times coming up.
Keep your debt low and save some money for a rainy day!0 -
During an econimic slow down the luxery itams are always the firt to stop selling, sorry to Harly, but they are a luxery item 0 -
Harleys - $10,000 bike with a $25,000 name. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by oldnbald
Harleys - $10,000 bike with a $25,000 name.
exactly!0 -
quote:Originally posted by sarge_3ad
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
Maybe this will cause them to lower their high prices a bit?[}:)]
Trinity +++
I hope your right. The bikes are way over priced, just for the name.
Right on. I bought into their "buy American and pay WAY more than it's worth" stuff until 2002 when it would've cost me $25. to replace a stamped tin concho that fell off my saddle bags. Just because it said "Harley Davidson"on it.
That was my breaking point. Went home and sold my '98 Wide Glide and never looked back.0 -
quote:Originally posted by oldnbald
Harleys - $10,000 bike with a $25,000 name.
Only in America!0 -
quote:Bummer,........some of that is simply the economy right now, due to morons that bought houses they couldn't afford.
The dealers are greedy SOB's though by and large.
I was in the market at one point for a "fatboy",......you look up MSRP on Harleys site, and then go to the dealers.
Add several thousands, to the MSRP, and that is what it would cost you to leave with one.
I have never paid MSRP on any vehicle, and it sure as heck wasn't gonna start with a "bike".
Told em they were crazy, and left.
Maybe if they get back to reasonable prices, they will pick up again.
Right on spot with that.
Jon0 -
Anybody remember the late '70's-early '80's? The economy was tight and no one was buying luxury items. It looks like we're headed there again. It's bad for young people just starting out. Interest rates, along with everything else goes up.
AMF sold off H-D in '82 and they worked hard, from top to bottom, to turn the company around. It was the great American success story.
I think it went to their head.
Anyway, I'm glad I bought mine this summer. I had one years ago, but sold it and got married. My wife started wanting me to get another Harley about a year ago. Now she loves riding more than I do. She has been through a lot the last few years (breast cancer, daughter in wheel chair, etc.) I have no regrets spending the money because it seems to bring her great joy. That's priceless to me.0 -
I have a RANT this time.
Called one of the shops/dealers in town today, to see about them doing some work I want done. They told me that since mine is a "93" they WILL NOT work on it. They will only work on "96" and newer. [:(!][:(!][:(!]
I BOUGHT the bike from that dealer. That makes 2 dealers, that I know of, that are pulling this crap. I am not so sure my next bike will be a harley.0 -
quote:Originally posted by pickenup
I have a RANT this time.
Called one of the shops/dealers in town today, to see about them doing some work I want done. They told me that since mine is a "93" they WILL NOT work on it. They will only work on "96" and newer. [:(!][:(!][:(!]
I BOUGHT the bike from that dealer. That makes 2 dealers, that I know of, that are pulling this crap. I am not so sure my next bike will be a harley.
That is called shooting oneself in the foot, business wise.
They will pay for it.
How many folks will you tell this to?
Ooops,.......think you just told a few here.0 -
We went on a poker run this weekend. Out of 128 bikes only 8 were Harley.(Hardleys as I call em cause they cant keep up) We even started at the Harley shop.... yeah no thanks I will stick to Hondas. 0 -
Why a Harley isn't an American Motorcycle.
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/noharley2.html0 -
Our local Harley dealer won't work on any older (than 1997) bikes either, even if you bought it there!
And one Honda dealer refuses to work on Gold Wings! ANY Gold Wings!0 -
HD stands for high dollar. The old man has an 05. He rode bikes when he was younger and always wanted an HD so he got one after he retired and had to let it sit in the garage for a year because he had throat cancer. He doesn't take it anywhere and still puts on 10k miles a year. What ever makes him happy but I think it is a huge waste of gas and money. He complains about how much it cost but hasn't slowed down this year. May change next year as things only get more expensive. 0 -
I love my 85 fxrs & thats all that matters to me..everyones got their own opinion.most folks that bad mouth them...deep down wish they had one..[;)] 0 -
Gotta say I think they are way overpriced but also have to say I would love to own one. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tomh.
Our local Harley dealer won't work on any older (than 1997) bikes either, even if you bought it there!
And one Honda dealer refuses to work on Gold Wings! ANY Gold Wings!
I'd damn sure find another dealer when it came time to buy a bike again.[:(] I would imagine, with the economy being a sick, the smart dealers would start busting their butts to keep customers and money coming in. That might mean having to give service instead of just sell and wave goodbye.
And, no, I do not want a Hardly. I just don't have the time to bend wrenches on it all the time.[:D]0 -
I rode all makes of bikes,ride harley now and a Honda 4-wheeler and I will never bash another rider because of what he rides,to each his own.The main thing is to ride it and enjoy it.
I ride in blue jeans and a tee shirt.
Issue with working on older harley bikes,just an opinion mind you.
Younger techs do not have a clue how to work on an older bike.
Even if dealer does work on it then repairs could run more than what bike is worth.
You do not have to pay HARLEYS SUGGESTED LIST PRICE,I did not,but if you will then they will gladly take your money.
Harley is not a racing bike.
One problem with Harley is their dealers,they think that they make the only motorcycle,they do not.
In my opinion,Harley has not learned yet how to build an EPA COMPLIANT BIKE THAT WILL NOT OVERHEAT AND RUN LEAN,BEGINNING WITH 2007 MODEL YEAR. The customer is left to fix it.
All the above is opinion and take it for what it is worth.0 -
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Harley's economic woes started before the housing decline. 0 -
"Harley is not a racing bike."
Yes it is:
www.buell.com/en_us/news_events/newsdetail.asp?news_id=1337
Buell....is a division of Harley.0 -
For give me,harley in general is not a racing bike.
Idsman75-True
It started by making more bikes than they could sell,dealer service,dealerships everywhere,making bikes run lean which creates heat to meet EPA standards.Then throw in economic woes,gas prices.
It is amazing to me that Harley has not caught on to how some,not all dealerships treat the customer.0 -
Harley will suffer the same fate as any luxury seller in hard times. Folks only buy necessities when things get tight, and this time of year is always a seasonal downturn in bike sales for everyone.
The man is in business and has to protect his investment. Sometimes, that means letting folks go, and always means a seasonal adjustment.
Harley isn't hurting too badly. They still refuse to come off of sticker price around here. This particular dealer may have heavy lease bills and heavy payroll, but Harley is sound.
Sorry for the employees, but this is business. The dealer may or may not be a good business man, but Harley Davidson is as solid as ever and as long as there is a bike market in the US, Harley will have a piece chuck of it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
"Harley is not a racing bike."
Yes it is:
www.buell.com/en_us/news_events/newsdetail.asp?news_id=1337
Buell....is a division of Harley.
Buell is a racing bike, Harley isn't, even if Harley Davidson Holdings owns both of them. They are also in talks with Ducati for a merger. That would most likely be the end of Buell.0 -
Actually, this article is about a Florida dealership. Let me drop everyone a clue here. Florida is one of the worst-hit states with regards to the over-zealous housing speculation bubble that just popped. Florida's STATE economy is one of the worst hit by the most recent economic downturn. This is one dealership selling a product whose parent company was already doing not-so-hot before the economy turned south. It just happens to be located in a state that was one of the hardest hit. It's a bit of an extreme example and a bit too anecdotal for me to put much stock in the intent of the article. 0
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